Pretoria – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that it received more than one million applications for 5 500 police trainee positions, highlighting a high level of interest from young South Africans.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the recruitment process is still underway, with thousands of applicants currently undergoing the first stage of assessments.
“The first step for all applicants is psychometric and integrity testing, which is being conducted across all nine provinces,” Van Wyk explained.
She noted that the selection process also includes a physical fitness evaluation, vetting, and medical examinations to ensure that only the most suitable candidates are enlisted.
“These measures are in place to uphold the high standards expected of our officers,” Van Wyk added.
Preference will be given to applicants with tertiary qualifications at NQF level 6 or higher, and those holding a valid driver’s licence.
“Of the applications we received by the closing date of 18 July 2025, 334 765 were graduates holding qualifications in policing, law, forensic investigation, and other fields of study,” she said.
Van Wyk urged all applicants to remain patient while the process continues.
“All applicants will be contacted by our recruitment teams if they are deemed suitable. We ask everyone to wait for official communication rather than relying on unofficial sources,” she said.
Training for the successful recruits is expected to commence in 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
